Ford truck sales are picking up as the economy improves. / Ford Motor

by James R. Healey and Fred Meier, USA TODAY

by James R. Healey and Fred Meier, USA TODAY

Ford sales boomed to an 18% gain in April to 212,584, driven by its best April for pickup trucks since 2005.

Sales of the company's F-150 pickup were up 24% over a year ago to 59,030 on a continuing rebound as the economy picks up. Jenny Lin, Ford's senior U.S. economist, said on a conference call with analysts and media that pickups sales are "being supported by the housing sector and a boom in the energy sector."

The company noted that sales of full-size pickups have been picking up at the pace of the industry since 2010, but for the first four months of this year they have been outpacing it.

Ford's redesigned Fusion sedan and Escape small SUV also help lead the gain, up 24% and 52 % respectively to 26,722 and 25,826. It was Escape's best total since the model launched 13 years ago, the company said. Significantly for profits, the company said on the conference call that about half of Escape sales were the higher-level SEL and Titanium models.

Overall, the company's car sales rose 21%, SUVs were up 16% and trucks were up 16%.

"We are working harder than ever to keep pace with record demand for our all-new, fuel-efficient Fusion and Escape â?? with sales growth particularly strong on the coasts," said Ken Czubay, U.S. head of marketing, sales and service, in a statement. "F-Series pickups also continue to build on their momentum as the housing and construction industries rebound."

The company noted that Fusion is selling well in the West and Southeast, traditionally weaker sales regions for Ford.

Sales of America's best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series increased 24 percent, with 59,030 pickups sold. This represents F-Series best April sales results since 2006. It also is the 21st straight monthly sales increase for F-Series â?? with sales up 19 percent year to date.

Even the struggling Lincoln luxury brand joined the party, with sales up 21%. Dealers finally had inventory of the key, redone MKZ sedan -- officially rolled out in January, but held back by production problems -- and the car sold 4,012 for the month, the most ever for the mid-size car. Many of the sales were final delivery of cars ordered earlier, but the company said a "significant number were new sales, though it did not provide a number.

"Lincoln finally has enough product on the ground to satisfy demand," says Alec Gutierrez, analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "Transaction prices are expected to be quite strong, reflecting an increasing willingness of consumers to pay premium pricing for Lincoln products."

He see a brighter future for the luxury brand that's been on life support.

"As additional products come to market, such as the MKC (all-new small crossover SUV), we expect to see Lincoln carve out a larger share of the growing luxury segment," he says.

Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst, says the MKZ also is introducing the brand to premium buyers who would not likely have had Ford's high-end brand on their list. "The car is catching on with a younger and more affluent buyer. It's also doing well in markets in which Lincoln has not been a player -- particularly in California, where its market share has gone up 10%."